Community

Fishguard welcomes St Davids day visitors

Published

11 years ago

March 19, 2015

Tom Sinclair

Steph and Steve Button: With
their stall

THE TOURISM industry in North Pembrokeshire received a welcome boost on St David’s Day, as a luxury train carrying 250 passengers visited Fishguard.

The Northern Belle, operated by the Orient Express owners Belmond, arrived in Fishguard Harbour train station at 3pm and stayed for an hour, allowing passengers the chance to relax and view a selection of local craft stalls. The train was on a St David’s Day round-trip from Cardiff, and passengers paid £265 for their tickets, which included a five-course meal.
Mayor of Fishguard and Goodwick Mike Lloyd was among local representatives there to greet the train. He was joined by representatives of the local army and naval cadets, as well as Fishguard heroine Jemima Nicholas (complete with pitchfork).
Goodwick brass band performed for the visitors, and their mixture of classic jazz tunes and re-workings of pop songs set a lot of feet tapping, and encouraged several couples to take an impromptu twirl on the dance floor.
Stalls set up by local art-and craft businesses, including Icatcha Jewellery, Bears by Steph Button, and Abella Art, attracted a lot of interest. Steve Button, who along with his wife dressed in Fishguard-themed costumes, was pleased with the way the day went: “We made a few sales, and everyone – the visitors and the local community – had a really good time.”
The visit was organised by Refreshing North Pembrokeshire, a new tourism initiative started by the Fishguard Chamber of Trade, and backed by the Coastal Communities Fund. Jeremy Martineau, the Head of Refreshing Pembrokeshire, told the Herald that the event was a success: “I was really pleased that the local community turned out,” he said, and went on praise the efforts of the band and the stall holders.
Mr Martineau also said that this was one of the first of many events organised in the north county this year: “There is going to be a really big effort to put Fishguard on the map. Fishguard has a real tendency to underestimate what it has to offer, and we are looking to address that. The Refreshing North Pembrokeshire scheme covers the area between St Davids and St Dogmaels and is active in communities and among businesses. Our aim is to expand and safeguard employment in the tourism industry, and we feel that we can best achieve this by extending both the length of the tourist season and the range of what is on offer.”

Community

Family safe after major house fire in Letterston, community told

Published

7 minutes ago

April 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Memorial hall opened to help those affected after blaze in Station Road area

A FAMILY escaped without injury after a major house fire in the Station Road area of Letterston, according to local residents.

The blaze prompted a major emergency response on Wednesday (Apr 15), with fire engines seen at the scene and the road closed while crews tackled the incident.

People posting in the Letterston community group said the family was safe, although one kitten was sadly lost in the fire.

One resident wrote: “They lost a kitten, but the family were ok. Nothing worse than a fire. There were 4 fire engines here at one time.”

Others described hearing multiple sirens and seeing smoke rising from the area, with one local woman saying her partner could see the fire engines from nearby fields.

As news of the fire spread, the local community quickly rallied round. The memorial hall was opened for anyone affected, while residents offered practical help and support to the family.

Messages posted online described the loss of the home as heartbreaking, with one resident writing that while the house had gone, the family were “alive and well to make more new memories”.

The Herald has approached the emergency services for official confirmation on the cause of the fire and the full extent of the damage.

Community

Police investigate reports of door-to-door salespeople in Milford Haven and Johnston

Published

3 hours ago

April 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Residents urged to stay alert as officers carry out patrols and work to establish whether the callers are legitimate

MILFORD HAVEN and Neyland Police said they are aware of concerns raised by residents following reports of door-to-door salespeople operating in the Milford Haven and Johnston area.

Local officers, together with neighbourhood policing and prevention teams, are working to establish the legitimacy of those involved and will be carrying out patrols while enquiries continue.

In the meantime, members of the public are being advised to familiarise themselves with crime prevention advice relating to unwanted visitors, which is available on the force’s website.

Anyone with information that could assist enquiries is asked to get in touch online, by email at [email protected], by direct message on social media, or by calling 101.

In an emergency, always dial 999.

Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or visiting its website.

Community

Big plant sale set to bloom in Narberth

Published

5 hours ago

April 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Family-friendly spring event will bring together local growers, craftspeople, food and live entertainment

GREEN fingers and creative talents will come together in Narberth next month as West Wales’ popular Big Plant Sale returns for 2026.

The event will take place at Narberth CP School on Saturday, May 2, offering visitors the chance to browse a wide range of plants, locally made crafts and eco-friendly products.

Organised with support from SPAN Arts, the annual sale has become one of the first major plant events of the season in the area, attracting gardeners of all ages and experience levels.

Stallholders are expected to offer everything from windowsill succulents and young seedlings to unusual and specialist plants, giving visitors plenty of choice as they prepare their homes and gardens for spring and summer.

Alongside the plants, there will also be a craft fair featuring handmade and environmentally conscious products, including soaps, textiles and wooden items made by local producers.

Organisers say the event is designed to be more than just a market, with locally produced food, live music and entertainment helping to create a lively and welcoming atmosphere for families and visitors of all ages.

SPAN Arts is also inviting local growers, nurseries, craftspeople and makers to get involved, particularly those working with sustainable and eco-friendly products.

The Big Plant Sale will run from 10:00am until 3:00pm at Narberth CP School, Jesse Road, Narberth, SA67 7FE. Visitors are asked to make a suggested £2 donation on entry.

Anyone interested in booking a stall can contact [email protected].

SPAN Arts, which is based in Narberth, has spent 30 years supporting arts and community projects across Pembrokeshire. The charity runs a broad programme of music, theatre, comedy and wellbeing activities, with a focus on reducing rural isolation and improving access to the arts.

For more information about the event, contact SPAN Arts on 01834 869323 or email [email protected].